Underwater anchor gun device



April 25, 1957 J. A. STANDRIDGE ETAL UNDERWATER ANCHOR GUN DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m E rm l n I 22 4 v 1 h I F/G. FIG. 3

INVENTORS J.A.STANDRIDGE B 5.0. NICHOLSON Aprll 1967 J. A. STANDRIDGE ETAL 3,315,629

UNDERWATER ANCHOR GUN DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 INVENTORS SI' DRI .NICH s ATTO YS April 1967 J. A. STANDRIDGE ETAL 3,315,629

UNDERWATER ANCHOR GUN DEVICE Filed NOV. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS J.A. STANDRIDGE BY B. 0. NICHOLSON United States Patent 3,315,629 UNDERWATER ANCHOR GUN DEVICE James A. Standridge and Brian D. Nicholson, Lafayette,

La., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,581 Claims. (Cl. 114-206) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for anchoring a buoy to the earth beneath a body of water.

Surface buoys which have been anchored to the earth beneath a body of water can be used as markers for a variety of different reasons. For example, buoys have been widely used as markers to assist ships in navigation, to identify the location of a sunken object, and to define routes for seismograph crews during offshore geophysical exploration work. Buoys used in connection with geophysical exploration work must be secured to the earth in a temporary manner because Coast Guard regulations do not allow buoys of this type to remain in place for more than 180 days. Although these buoys are temporary in nature, to be etfective as markers they must be secured to the earth by means of a device which Will provide enough holding power to prevent drag or walk off due to the wave and current action of the water. This presents a problem insofar as anchoring the buoy is concerned because it requires elaborate equipment to provide enough holding power for the buoy. This elaborate equipment is particularly undesirable in geophysical exploration work because it requires a great deal of time to anchor the buoy. The seismograph boats used in connection with the offshore geophysical exploration work must also be equipped with complex equipment for anchoring the buoys.

According to this invention, a buoy can be anchored to the earth beneath a body of water in a very short time with an apparatus which is simple in construction and yet will provide suflicient holding power to prevent drag or walk oil. This is accomplished by providing an apparatus including a frame assembly and an anchor which can be lowered through a body of water such that the anchor can be propelled into the earth and the frame assembly can be recovered and reused. A buoy secured to the anchor by means of a suitable line will remain in place because the anchor is propelled into the earth to a depth which will provide sufficient holding power for the buoy. The entire anchoring operation including the steps of lowering the frame assembly through the body of water, propelling the anchor into the earth, and retrieving the frame assembly can be accomplished in about minutes or less.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of and apparatus for quickly and efiiciently anchoring a buoy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for anchoring a buoy wherein the apparatus for anchoring the buoy is retrievable and reusable.

Still another object of this invention is :to provide a method of and apparatus for anchoring a buoy so as to provide sufficient holding power to prevent the buoy from drifting due to the action of waves or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for anchoring a buoy which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reference to the detailed specification, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation illustrating the apparatus for anchoring a buoy;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the anchor and propelling means for propelling the anchor into the earth;

FIGURE 3 illustrates an anchor which can be used in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the apparatus for anchoring the buoy after it has been lowered through a body of water and placed into position on the earth beneath the body of water; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates the anchored buoy and the anchoring apparatus being retrieved by raising it through the water.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numera-ls are used to denote like elements, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a frame assembly shown generally by 1 includes a circular base 2 constructed in the form of -a ring, a pair of arms 3 and 4 extending upward from the circular base, and a ring 6 attached to the upper portion of the arms. The circular base 2 can be formed from a U-shaped channel member or the like having a material such as lead disposed within the channel to provide the weight necessary for the assembly to be lowered through a body of water. The arms 3 and 4 are used to support a housing 7 by means of clamps 8 and 9 and bolt 11. The ring '6 and clamps 8 and 9 can be attached to the arms 3 and 4 by welding. The ring 6 can be used to connect a cable or the like 12 by means of a suitable clamp 13. The housing 7 is also secured to the circular base member 2 by means of a clamp 14 supported by diametrically opposed arms 16.

The housing 7 is provided with a chamber 17, and is best illustrated by FIGURE 2 of the drawings. A shim 18 positioned within the chamber 17 will serve to accommoda-te an explosive charge 19. The explosive charge 19 is provided with a percussion cap 26 which will serve to ignite the powder in the explosive charge.

An anchor 21, illustrated by FIGURE 3 of the draw ings, is provided with a pair of O-rings 22. The housing 7 has an opening 23 which will serve to carry the anchor 21 in register with the explosive charge 19. The O-rings 22 frictionally engage the walls of the opening 23 so as to hold the anchor in place. The O-rings also serve to prevent water from entering the chamber 17 when the frame assembly is being lowered into position.

The housing 7 is provided with a cap including a ring 27 adapted to engage shoulder 28 and a ring 29 which can be secured to ring 27 by means of a plurality of bolts 31 so as to close the upper end of the chamber 17. The ring 29 is provided with an opening 32 having a shim 33 disposed therein. A firing pin 34 is positioned within the shim 33 such that it is in register with the percussion cap 26 of the explosive charge 19.

The explosive charge 19 can be prepared by inserting a percussion cap 26 into the end of a 37 mm. cartridge case or the like. A suitableexplosive such as Dupont Red Dot Shotgun Powder or its equivalent can be charged into the 37 mm. cartridge case. A wad material such as a piece of rubber cut from an inner-tube or the like can be used as packing to compress the powder in the case. A water repellent material such as shellac can then be applied over the rubber wad material and the percussion cap 26 to insure that water will not enter the explosive charge 19.

The detonating means for detonating the explosive charge includes firing pin 34 adapted to be forced against the percussion cap 26 by means of a pivotally mounted hammer 36 positioned within a housing 37. The housing 37 can be attached to ring 29 by welding or other suitable means. A spring-biased bolt member having a block portion 38 and a rod portion 39 is slidably mounted within housing 37. A spring 41 positioned within housing 37 in engagement with block 38 and the interior end of the housing will serve to provide a force on the block 38 such that it can be moved with striking force against the hammer 36. A safety pin 42 positioned through housing 7 including the anchor is ready to body of water.

biased bolt break a line constructed of other materials.

' regulations.

37 and into block 38 will serve to prevent the block 38 from accidentally striking the hammer 36. Pin 42 can be removed by means of line 44 when the frame assembly be lowered through the A release pin 43 is positioned through the rod portion 39 of the bolt member such that it can be removed so as to allow theblock 38 of the spr ngmember to strike the hammer 36.

Referring to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the frame assembly 1 including the anchor is shown as having been lowered into position on the earth 46 beneath a body of water 47 by means of cable 12 and winch means 4%? secured to a boat or the like 49. The anchor 21 15 provided with a circumferential groove 51 which will serve to accommodate a line connecting the anchor with a buoy 52. The-buoy can be constructed from an elastomeric material or the like which can be inflated to any convenient size. The line connecting the anchor and the buoy includes a steel line or the like 53 and a rope 54 constructed of a material which will deteriorate due to the action of the water. It is generally preferred to use about 15 feet of steel line because the sudden force generated by the action of the anchor as it is propelled into the earth could The rope portion 54 of the line connecting the anchor with the buoy is constructed of a material which will deteriorate in less than 180 days. This will allow the buoy to float free from the anchor thereby complying with Coast Guard Materials which can be used for constructing the rope '54 include sisal hemp and cotton. A rope inch in diameter constructed of sisal hemp was found to deteriorate in less than six months due to the action of the water.

The line connecting the anchor 21 and the buoy 52 can be attached to the release pin 43 thereby providing a means for removing the release pin from the springbiased bolt member so as to allow the detonating means to detonate the explosive charge.

FIGURE of the drawings shows the anchor 21 after it has been propelled into the earth 46. The hne mcluding the steel wire 53 and the rope 54 secures the buoy to the anchor. The frame assembly 1 is shown being retrieved by raising the cable 12 by means of the winch 48.

a V In the practice of this invention, the explosive charge 19: is positioned within sleeve 18 and the cap including rings 27 and 29 are secured by means of bolts 31. The

' anchor 21 having the O-rings 22 in position is inserted in opening 23 of housing 7. The detonatingmeans is prepared for firing by pulling on the rod portion 39 of the spring-biased bolt member to compress spring 41. The safety pin 42 and release pin 43 are then inserted into their respective openings so as to maintain the detonating means in its cocked position. The steel line 53, after being attached to rope 54, is passed beneath the circular base 2 and attached in groove 51 of anchor 21. A portion of the steel line is formed into a coil and secured to arm 4. This coil will unwind whenthe anchor is propelled into the earth thereby preventing the sudden thrust of the anchor from breaking the rope 54.

After the frame assembly has been positioned over the side of the boat 49, the safety pin 42 can be removed by means of line 44. The frame assembly is then lowered through the body of water 47 by means of winch 48 until it comes into contact with the earth 46. The line connecting the buoy 52 and the anchor 21 can then be pulled so as to remove the release pin 43 thereby allowing the detonating means to detonate the explosive charge to propel the anchor into the earth. The line connecting the anchor and the buoy is then free from the frame assembly. This will allow the frame assembly to be raised through the body of water such that it can be reused.

It can thus be seen that by employing the method and apparatus of this invention, a buoy can be anchored efficiently. Since the entire frame assembly quickly and has been ancan be retrieved and reused after the buoy chored, the invention results in an inexpensive method of anchoring a buoy.

Although the invention has been described such that the frame assembly is lowered into contact with the earth, it is within the spirit and scope of this invention to suspend the frame assembly a slight distance above the earth. This techniquefor anchoring the buoy has particular ap-. plication to a situation wherein the terrain of the earth beneath the body of water is uneven such that it would be difiicult to position the frame assembly.

It is further Within the spirit and scope of this invention to employ a separate line to the release pin for detonating the explosive charge to propel the anchor into the earth.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail for the purpose of illustration, it is understood t'liat such detail is for this purpose only and that many modifications and changes can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit an scope thereof.

We claim: a

1. Apparatus for anchoring a buoy to the earth beneath a body of water comprising: a frame assembly; means connected to said frame assembly for lowering said frame assembly through said body of water and for retrieving said frame assembly after said buoy has been anchored;

a housing secured to said frame assembly, said housing having a chamber; an explosive charge positioned within said chamber; an anchor carried by said housing inregister with said explosive charge; detonating means secured to a release pin positioned through said rod portion of'said spring-biased bolt member adapted to be removed from said rod portion to allow said detonating means to deto nate said explosive charge; and means connecting said buoy and said anchor for holding said buoy after said anchor has been propelled into the earth. 1

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said buoy and said anchor is connected to said release pin to allow said release pin to beremoved from 1 said rod portion of said spring-biased bolt member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said buoy and said anchor includes a wire line attached at one end to said anchor and a rope constructed of a material which will deteriorate due to the action of the water attached to the other end of said wire line and to said buoy.

4. Apparatus for anchoring a buoy to the earth beneath a body of water comprising, in combination: a boat adapted to float on the surface of said body of water; a frameassembly adapted to rest upon the earth beneath said body of water; means connecting said frame assembly to said boat for lowering said frame assembly through said body of water and for retrieving said frame assembly after said buoy has been anchored; a housing secured to said frame assembly, said housing having a chamber; an explosive charge positioned within said chamber; an anchor carried by said housing in register with said explosive charge; detonating means secured to said housing for detonating said explosive charge to propel said anchor into the earth, said detonating means including a firing pin positioned in register with said explosive charge a hammer mounted to strike said firing pin, a spring-biased bolt member having a block portion and a rod portion, said block portion being positioned to strike said hammer,

a removable safety pin positioned through said block 1 portion of said spring-biased member to prevent accidental detonation of said explosive charge, and a release pin positioned through said rod portion of said spring-biased bolt member adapted to be removed from said rod portion to allow said detonating means to detonate said explosive charge; anchor; and a rope constructed of a material which will deteriorate due to the action of the water attached to the other end of said Wire line and to said buoy, said rope being attached to said release pin in said detonating means to allow said release pin to be removed of Water While said total frame assembly is suspended and held out of contact With the earth beneath said body of Water to anchor said buoy; and retrieving said frame assembly after said buoy has-been anchored.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,745,759 2/1930 Gruber 102-70 2,176,477 10/1939 Varney et al 175-6 2,660,952 12/1953 Mohaupt a- 102-70 X 3,054,123 9/1962 Moeller 114-206 X 3,118,417 1/1964 Stanwick 114-206 3,207,115 9/1965 Anderson 114-206 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR ANCHORING A BUOY TO THE EARTH BENEATH A BODY OF WATER COMPRISING: A FRAME ASSEMBLY; MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR LOWERING SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY THROUGH SAID BODY OF WATER AND FOR RETRIEVING SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY AFTER SAID BUOY HAS BEEN ANCHORED; A HOUSING SECURED TO SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY, SAID HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER; AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; AN ANCHOR CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING IN REGISTER WITH SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE; DETONATING MEANS SECURED TO SAID HOUSING FOR DETONATING SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE TO PROPEL SAID ANCHOR INTO THE EARTH, SAID DETONATING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRING PIN POSITIONED IN REGISTER WITH SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE, A HAMMER MOUNTED TO STRIKE SAID FIRING PIN, A SPRING-BIASED BOLT MEMBER HAVING A BLOCK PORTION AND A ROD PORTION, SAID BLOCK PORTION BEING POSITIONED TO STRIKE SAID HAMMER, A REMOVABLE SAFETY PIN POSITIONED THROUGH SAID BLOCK PORTION OF SAID SPRING-BIASED MEMBER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DETONATION OF SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE, AND A RELEASE PIN POSITIONED THROUGH SAID ROD PORTION OF SAID SPRING-BIASED BOLT MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID ROD PORTION TO ALLOW SAID DETONATING MEANS TO DETONATE SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE; AND MEANS CONNECTION SAID BUOY AND SAID ANCHOR FOR HOLDING SAID BUOY AFTER SAID ANCHOR HAS BEEN PROPELLED INTO THE EARTH. 